Sermon Nuggets Mon Sept 13
Theme -Living With Purpose
Verses Phil 1:20-30
Living with Purpose
We have been called upon as a nation to contemplate the fundamental principles for which our nation exists. Our preamble of the constitution states: “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, and insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the united States of America.”
Why do we exist? It is for freedom. The important elements of liberty include the need for justice, welfare, and defense, and peace in our land. If we can bring our purpose down to specifics guidelines it helps our president and our congress make decisions. Our purpose is to defend freedom and peace in our land and we will do what it takes.
As a congregation we have been asking ourselves this simple question, “Why does Stanchfield Baptist Church exist?” Last Sunday I wanted to remind us of our main purpose and also a call to individual lives for the next step God wants for us and for you your own spiritual journey. Ultimately we exist for God’s glory. We exist for God’s glory upward in worship, Inward in the fellowship and teaching of our members and attenders, and Outward to our world in need for salvation and for physical and social needs.
Look at the purpose helps us remember our strategy. It helps us ask questions every year. Are we really worshiping God or just going through motions or wanting to do what other churches are doing? We are asking ‘how we are meeting the needs of our congregation- not only when there are hurting and need of help and support, but teaching the word of God and being discipled for the purpose of serving Christ and one another as the body of believers. It helps us not to be so focused on ourselves but remember the call to the many who have not responded by faith in Jesus Christ and those who are hurting in our world, the needy, the lonely, in New York and in all the parts of the world.
It was suggested that we advertise our purpose more because we tend to forget and get involved in things that just are not according to our purpose.
This is what the apostle Paul did in his letter to Philippians. He wanted to identify that which made him tick and have it serve as an example to us all.
The last couple of weeks as we began devotions from the book of Philippians we are reminded that in spite of his imprisonment he is encouraged with a joy that comes within. You can have joy inside even though your circumstances might stink. When there is trouble at work, at home in church, in the world, in the nation you can have an inward joy. His focus helps us understand that joy. His imprisonment has not hindered the spread of the gospel in anyway. On the contrary, it has opened doors that otherwise would have remained closed to him. The Emperor’s own troops are hearing the gospel, the Christians in Rome are getting more involved in spreading the word and, even though motives are suspect with some preachers, the Gospel is getting preached.
Paul now moves into how he as a person is faring under the pressure of captivity and his upcoming trial. It is a very personal passage - we see him refer to himself 20 times within 8 verses. He talks about everything - how he feels, what he wants to live for, who he cares about, his mental condition as he awaits his trial. It serves to help us.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues Sept 14
Verses- Phil 1:20-21 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Remember your Purpose
Paul informs us that his personal purpose in life is to live for Jesus Christ and the advancement of his good news to the world. He lives knowing that when he dies he will gain an eternal reward and blessing that makes all the difficulties of this life worth it.
Why did the terrorists give their lives in a suicide mission killing 1,000s of people? They had a purpose for which they lived. It was to establish an extreme Moslem world and to destroy any system of government that gets in the way of their goal. Most Moslems will tell you the Mohammed, their prophet, strictly forbids the killing of innocent people, especially women and children, but your fundamentalist Moslem believe that freedom and democracy is of Satan, an evil to be destroyed in order to establish submission to the laws of Koran all people. Their deaths as martyrs are believed to be rewarding by each on having in the afterlife 72 virgins, wine and song. Many are willing to die in a holy war against evil for this brings them straight to this pleasure filled society.
The purpose for which you live will determine how you live. Jesus tells us in a surprising way, how you live will reveal why you live for. He puts it this way, “Where your treasure is, there is your heart also.”
I was reading in Rick Warren’s book, the Purpose Driven Church, where he identifies how board members can disagree based on their understanding of the purpose of the church. Some believe the purpose is to defend traditions because they have such personal meaning and comfort in knowing what to expect. Others seek to look to the pastor or to individuals in the church and make plans around a personality; others determine decisions purely around money with the concept the cheaper the better. Others to church growth. All we do and gear for is to get bigger and more people into the church. Others center their thoughts around the building, or around the unsaved, and so forth.
When a survey was taken among evangelical churches in the country there was a surprising statistic. 85% lay people believed the church’s purpose was to take care of the membership. The pastor’s job was primarily to serve as a shepherd to take care of the needs of the sheep. Surprisingly in their same churches approximately 85% of the pastors states the purpose of the church was to reach out to the unsaved and evangelism.
At the Saddleback church, which Warren pastors, they have developed two guiding principles to be the foundation for their purpose of existence- the great commandment which is carried out in the great commission. The command to love God more than anything else in all the world, and secondly love others is what motivates the commission to go into all the world making disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands.
Have you ever thought about personal purpose? What makes you tick? If I were to ask someone close to you what you live for what types of answers would I get?
For Paul it was easy. It is to live for Jesus Christ. My body belongs to Christ. I have given it to him, my soul belongs to Jesus I have given it to him, My mind belongs to Jesus I have given it to him. I want to live for the glory and work of God period.
Now Paul could do that making tents. He could do that in his traveling. He could even do that while a prisoner. He has simplified the alternatives of his life down to two. He explains, I will either live or die. You don’t have to complicate things do you. If I live, then that will be great, for then I have an eternal purpose. I will live for Jesus and seek to establish and strengthen the church. Paul loved to tell people about Christ love, his death and resurrection and how they might be children of God’s kingdom. He took that message to the unreached parts of the world. He found joy in seeing people get saved and turn their hearts over to Jesus Christ. He delighted to see them mature in their faith. So even when he was in prison, he had the delight of seeing these soldiers come to Christ, to see people in Caesars family come to Christ. He was serving Christ and so fulfilling his purpose.
However, there is another alternative to living and that is dying. What happens if Caesar condemns me to death? Well that’s even better, for then I am with Christ whom I love so dearly. To die Is gain, For you see in this life I have Jesus and if I die I’ll be with Jesus and that will even be better. I hope they kill me. O, wait a minute that’s being selfish, for if they kill me then what about all of you and the things I want you to know the people I haven’t seen come to Christ yet? Oh well, then I’m pretty sure Jesus wants me around, but I really can’t decide which is best, but either way I can’t lose.”
What a fantastic purpose. You can’t lose. I you want me to live, I’ll serve Jesus and if you want me to die, I’ll be with Jesus. You lose either way. I win either way.
What makes you tick? For many it is pleasure and they are miserable when good times are threatened and they are not having fun anymore. For others they live for the children but what happens when the kids are gone? They have nothing to live for. Some live for money and this week is horrible- there is no security in our economy. And one day we will live it all behind. Some live for power. I thought of all the power of these past presidents sitting in the front pews of the national cathedral and thought of their counterparts in other countries, and how quickly that fades away.
There is one thing that lasts for all eternity, and it is life in Jesus Christ now and forever. It is good to remember your purpose.
Pastor Dale
Sermon nuggets Weds Sept 15
Verses Phil 1:22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Re-evaluate your Circumstances.
Now with your purpose in mind you need to look at your circumstances differently. Most we have no control over our circumstances. If my purpose is living for Jesus Christ, and my end is being with Jesus Christ then I will commit all the circumstances to the sovereign control of Jesus Christ to carry out whatever he wants in my life. He can take all the good and the bad circumstances and use them for His glory.
In other words you can live for Jesus Christ regardless of your circumstances. You cannot have any joy or peace if you live for your children and circumstances change, you can’t have any joy or peace if you live for money and circumstances change. You can’t have joy if you live for power and your circumstances change. You can’t have any joy if you live for pleasure and circumstances change, but you can have joy and peace if your circumstance change if your purpose for living is the glory of Jesus Christ. For then you can be amazed as you watch him work within you and around you to accomplish his purposes.
The circumstances surrounding a severe illness with all the medical problems would make one almost give up on life, but when place in the hands of God and his glory and purpose to witness and help others there is joy. All things work together for good to those who love God and are called to his purpose. There will be unknown number of people helped physically, emotionally and spiritually as a servant of God gave his life and is in the presence of God almighty.
Many of the Apollo astronauts were depressed after their mission. Once they attain to their reason for living they are left disappointed or strangely empty. One of them said his whole life revolved around the mission to land on the moon. Once the mission was completed, he experienced a severe depression. He concluded that the only lasting reason for living had to be found in God, and so he became a Christian. Two other astronauts who went on the moon also became believers.
In light of your purpose re-evaluate your circumstances. I read of Mehdi Dibaj, for example, was imprisoned by the government of Iran in the late 80 ago on charges of "apostasy," since he had converted from Islam to Christianity. The penalty for this crime according to Islamic law was death. Mehdi languished in prison for ten years before his case came to trial. When it did, his written statement of defense was a simple and straightforward affirmation of commitment to Jesus Christ. The last few lines of that defense contain this remarkable paragraph: “[Jesus Christ] is our Savior and he is the Son of God. To know him means to know eternal life. I, a useless sinner, have believed in him and all his words and miracles recorded in the gospel. I have committed my life into his hands. Life for me is an opportunity to serve him, and death is a better opportunity to be with Christ.
Therefore I am not only satisfied to be in prison for the honor of his holy name, but am ready to give my life for the sake of Jesus my Lord...
On December 12, 1993, the court before whom this defense was made sentenced Mehdi to death. He re-evaluated his circumstances in relationship to his purpose. He won. In Christ even his circumstances were given over to the Lord to use for his glory and witness.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thur Sept 16
Verses: Phil 1: 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
Renew your Commitment.
Paul’s example also helps us to be challenged to renew your commitment. He wanted the Philippian believers to live to Christ. How do you do that? What does that mean in an every day world?
It means set up your priorities and strategies of life to accomplish your purpose. Be sure that what you do is consistent with what you say. It means to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. The KJV translates it conversation but in the Greek the word means more than conversations, but certainly does include our conversations- it means whole life.
What you do speaks more loudly that what you say. Someone can say they love their wife, but beat and abuse them is not living like a Christian. One who says they love the Lord and cheat others is not living up to what they say they believe. People who say they follow Christ and steal and lie are dishonoring the name of Jesus.
Paul says renew your commitment to let the Holy Spirit work out his way in your life for that you will live a consistent life with what Jesus is teaching. No, we are not perfect but that doesn’t mean that you don’t try to be. I fail, but I hope that I don’t give up trying to do better. The Holy Spirit convicted me again this week of something that I need to change in my life. I have asked God to not only help me, but convict me and teach me how I can overcome this.
God’s response? “Do you really mean it?” – What do you mean do I really mean it? Then I thought—I hate some sins and some sins I really like. I don’t like the results of some of my sins, but at the time I like it. No, Lord, I guess I don’t really mean it. I just want to pray so I can act like I should, not really wanting to change, jut not wanted the consequences. I need to renew my commitment to want to live for Jesus
Paul is challenged them to stand up and be counted. Unashamed. When the kids make fun of you at school when people are work call you Holy Joe, when the others in the neighborhood get together and don’t want to include you because you make them feel guilty or remarks are said that make you feel uneasy.
It is consistent to stand firm. But Paul is also concerned about their unity. What a sad things when people are not striving together, not contenting as one for the faith.
The churches and people do not work together there is no advancement to their upward inward and outward purpose. It is frustrating to see some churches doing the very things that Satan uses to keep them from carrying out the work in the community.
The renewal of commitment as followers of Christ is for purity, unity, and courage.
To the nation that is officially open to various lifestyles you don’t hear a call to purity but values of freedom and the enjoyment individuals have within our nation to pursue their own dreams. The call to the Christian is to live worthy of the gospel in obedience to Jesus Christ. We are called to purity and integrity and to defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is no better time to call American believers in Christ to unity for the faith. When people are talking and asking more for prayer and people without purpose are questioning their own values, now is the time to point them to the true savior of the world, Jesus Christ. As we unite under the flag symbolizing freedom, so a greater call is to unite under the cross which purchased eternal freedom from the bondage of sin and hell.
But this spiritual war will also be a call to courage. Courage for the believer of Jesus knowing that there will be times when people are open to the gospel and times when people are opposed to Jesus and his followers.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Sept 17
Verses- Phil 1: 27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-- and that by God.
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Rejoicing in your Hope
In the speech to the nation there is a forward hope that is placed before us. It is the destruction of enemies and the freedoms of America to continue activity without fear and in prosperity once again. We hope for peace. The cost may be high, there maybe causalities and suffering, but the result we strive for will be worth it.
I am glad for the strength we have in so many ways as a nation. We have a strong military, we are still one of the richest countries, we have a strong resolve to freedom, we have people who came from various nations and backgrounds that become our teachers in suffering and are among the most courageous in contending for the future.
But in all this there is still a higher and greater calling we see demonstrated by Paul. I have hope. I am resting in the hope that is seen in your prayers. That gives me hope of physical deliverance, but even if I don’t I’m going to heaven praise God.
I have rejoicing It will turn out for my deliverance. I earlier expect and hope that I will not be ashamed and will have courage to exalt Christ in life and in death. I know I have a hope of going to heaven, which will make all the struggles the jailing, the beatings and the persecution worth it.
The way you face adversity both reveals who you are and strengthens your faith and character to be more like Christ. When precious metals are mined from the earth they’re not yet suitable for use. They must be refined. They’re put into a furnace and the proper amount of heat is applied. The metal melts and the impurities rise to the top where they’re removed. What’s left is a substance uncontaminated by impurities. God is up to the same thing with us. Every time we face difficulties in a godly manner we’re being refined to be brought forth like pure gold.
I am told the story of a young 8-year-old boy was sitting on a wooden pew during the Sunday morning service in a cathedral. He wasn’t particularly interested in the sermon or the topic the preacher was addressing, he was more enamored by the art, the statues and the beautiful stain glass windows. He noticed that the colors were bright, the faces etched in the glass were joyful, and the perfect morning sun illuminated the colors. After eyeing it for several minutes, he was very impressed and whispered to his mother, “Oh mother, who are those people in the colorful stained glass?” His mother replied in a correcting tone, “They are saints. Shhh.”
The next day, the young boy was off to school. At the outset of the history lesson, his teacher announced, “Today we are going to learn about the saints. Can anyone tell me what a saint is?” While others in the class seemed puzzled, the young boy excitedly raised his hand. He replied, “Yes ma’am. Saints have joyful faces. They are colorful and the sun shines through them.” What a call to be lights of the Son of God to shine in us.
Paul reminds the Philippians they need not be afraid. They are on the winning team. Like him they can rejoice in the hope that is theirs because of what Christ has done.
Through the centuries it was the blood of the martyrs that was the seed of the church. When people see the suicide mission of Islamic fundamentals who purposely kill others out of hate it is appalling, but when they see the working together of people seeing to save others from buildings and giving blood for strangers, and collecting gifts for those who help the message of love even to the point of passengers who give their lives to commandeer a plane to crash into the ground rather than into another building of citizen move the passage of self sacrifice to save others out of love.
Jesus is the example of love, of laying down his life for us while we were yet sinners. Paul is rejoicing because the main purpose of his life is being fulfilled. It is living for Christ and to see others come to salvation and that is happening so he is joyful in rough circumstances. He rejoices in is hope because they will share it with them.
Pastor Dale
